Mail-delivering apparatus.



G. L. KRINKE. MAIL DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION rILBD 116.12.1909.'

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. u m m w www4 \1'N: mmm: PsfsRs co., wAsHmuroN. D. c.

G. L. KRINK'E. MAIL DBLIVERIN G APPARATUS. APPLIOATIGN FILED AUG. 12, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

45.1) Stima,

Patented A111227, 1909.

GEORGE L. KRINKE, OF MAZEPPA, MINNESOTA.

MAIL-DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27', 1909.

Application filed August 12, 1908. Serial No. 448,207.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. KRINKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Maze pa, in the county of VVabasha and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Delivering Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a mail bag delivering and receiving apparatus, and has for its object the provision of means for facilitating the delivering of a mail bag from a fast moving train.

Another object of this invention is the production of a mail bag support which will more readily hold a mail bag in position to be delivered upon a mail bag receiving apparatus.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a car showing a mail bag receiving apparatus in operation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mail bag supporting yoke. Fig. 3 is a detail, sectional view of the fastening device for holding the yoke upon the support. Fig. 4 is a modification of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mail bag receiving hook. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the bag-receiving hook. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7, of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal, sectional view of one ol' the mail bag receiving carriages. Fig. 9 is a detail, pen spective of one ol' the locking members of the mail delivering support. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10, Fig. 1. Fig. 1.1 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of the hook-device, forming part of the receiving-apparatus.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates a car, which car is provided with a lower transverse track 2 and an upper transverse track 3. The lower track 2 is placed below the surface of the floor of the car so as to be out ol' the way of the operator of the mail bag delivering apparatus. The upper track 3 is secured to the car and extends nearly half way across said car so as to allow the mail bag delivering apparatus, hereinafter described, to be readily removed from said tracks. Working in the upper track 3 and the lower track 2 is a frame-work 4, to

22, thus locking the hinge member 22.

the lower end of which are secured rollers 5, which rollers work in the grooved lower track 2. The top of the frame-work 4 works in the grooved track 8. Upon the outer end of each of the tracks 2 and 3 are positioned bumpers G, which prevent the frame-work 4 from bcing pushed too far out of the car. To the opposite side of the car are attached clamps 7, which clamps are provided with a reduced extension S, which passes through the side of the car and has screw-threads upon its end nuts 9. The clamp 7 is adapted to rotate so that, when the frame-work 4 is moved or shoved back into the car, the clamp 7 can be rotated to allow the angle portion 10 of the clamp to overhang a portion ol the framework 4 and allow the thumb-screw 11 to clamp said portion ol the frame-work against one side of the car.

The mail bag support, which constitutes the frame-work 4, comprises two upright members 12 and 12a. baid upright members are joined at the top and bottom by cross members 13. Secured to the upright member 12 are two outwardly-extending members 14, upon the outer end of which is positioned a mail bag carrier or yoke. Secured near the lower end of the upright member 12LL is an angle brace 15, which angle brace is also secured near the outer end of the outwardly extending members 14. Secured to the upright member 12 are also longitudinall r-extending braces 16, which braces are connected or secured to the anglebrace 15. A brace 17 is secured to the an gle brace 15 and to one of the longitudinallyextending braces 16 and to the two outwardly-extending members 1 4 for the purpose ol bracing said outwardly-extending members 14. Y Y

A yoke or mail bag carrier 1S is positioned upon the outwardl T-eXtending arms 14; said yoke 1S comprises a plurality of hollow members 19, which are joined or connected by means of upright members 20, the ends of which are screw-threaded into the hollow members 19 at 20. Extensions 21- are positioned near each end of' the lower member 19, and to one of these extensions is hinged a semicircular member 22, and said member 22 is adapted to be locked by means of a thumb-screw 23, which passes through the reduced extension 24 of the member 21 and the bifurcated end 25 of the hinged member i A mail bag is adapted to be secured to the hinged member 22 and securely lock by means of said hinged member. Upon one of the outwardly-extending arms 14 is positioned a bumper 26, which prevents the yoke 18 Jfrom being pushed too far upon the outwardly-extending members 14.

The yoke 18 is held upon the frame-work 4 by means of the hollow members 19 fitting over the outer ends of the outwardly-proj ecting members 14, and the hollow members are held upon said outwardly-extending ends by means of a pawl 27, which is pivoted at 2,8. The pawl 27 is normally held in an upright position by means of a spring 29, which is secured to the outer end of the upper outwardly extending arms 14, at 3.0.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification of my device. In this instance the outwardlyeXtending ends of the members 14 are bent at right angles to the frame-work. The hollow members 19 are connected by one vertical member 20 at their rearends, and the outer member is slightly bulgedr so as t0,

.form a hook, which hook is to be caught by the mail bag receiving ap aratus, to be positioned at one side of tliie railroad track. In this modification, it will be seen that, When the bag is received from the mail bag support, or frame-work 4, it is not necessary to immediately withdraw the frame-work 4 within the car, as is the case with Fig. 1,

but the yoke 18 will be readily removed from the ends of the outwardly-extending members 14.

To one side of the track are positioned standards 31, which standards 31 are provided with laterally-extending braces 32. Stretched between said standards 31, and secured to said standards, are two sets of cables or wires 33, constituting an upper and lower set. Upon one end of each oi' the sets of cables 33 is positioned a bumper 34, which com rises a spring 35 and a bumper late 36. Ilpon the'opposite ends of the caliles 33 are positioned yieldable bumpers 37.

A mail bag receiving device is adapted to travel upon the lcables 33,r and said device comprises two upper carriages 38 and two lower carriages 39, the upper carriages being connected to the vlower .carriages by vertically-extending membersl 40, and each end of the vertically-extending portion 40 is secured ijn a bulged portion 41 upon the carriages 38 and 39. Secured in said bulged portion are also outwardlyextending rods 42, which yare secured at their outer ends to a mail receiving hook and bumper 43, said ends passing through the buieft block 44 and being secured thereto by means of nuts threaded thereon. Extending downwardly from the buffet block is a bumper 45., against which is adapted to Vstrike the mail bag holding yoke, 18. Secured te 011e side of the bufet block 44 is a yoke-receiving extension 46, and said yoke-receiving extension 46 is secured to the buffet block 44 by means of bolts 47, which pass through the flanges 48 upon the extension 46 and through the buffet block 44.

To prevent the yoke from being accidentally removed from the extension 46, after once beingl placed thereon, are provided hinged leaves 49, which hinged leaves are pivotally connected to the extension 46, at 50, and are normally held in their outward position by means of a coil spring 51 and a at spring 52. A T-shaped member 53 is iXedly secured to the inside of the flanges 54 of the hinged leaves and is secured to the side of the extension 46 by means of staples 55., the laterally-extending portions 56 of the T-shaped member 53 being below the staple,v thus limiting the outward movement of the hinged leaves. 49.

The carriages of the mail receiving apparatus comprise a casing 57, in which are positioned two sets of wheels 58 and 59, the u per set traveling upon an upper cable and tle lower set traveling upon the lower cable. The casing is `also. provided with a bulged portion 41 and in said bulged portion are secured the ends of the braces, as hereinbefore described.

The standards 31 are adapted to be placed from seventy-five to onehundred yards apart, and the mail-receiving device is adapted to freely travel upon the cables or Wires 33, so that, when the extension 46 comes in contact with the yoke 18, the receiving device can readily travel upon the cables 3.3, and the operator in the car can readily withdraw the frame-work 4 within said car, and thus the yoke will be removed from said frame-work. Vhen the yoke has been withdrawn from the frame-work 4, the receiving device will travel upon the cables 33 until it reaches the springpressed bumper 34, and said bumper being resilient, will return the receiving device in the opposite direction, and reduce the speed considerably, and, if the speed of the receiving device should be so great as to strike with any force, the opposite end, the casings 38 and 39 of the receiving device will strike the cushioned bumpers 37, thus preventing any jar or injury to the receiving device.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mail bag support,y said support com rising a frame-work, said frame-workproviC ed with parallel outwardlyextending portions, a yoke, said yoke comprising an upper and a lower hollow member, said members connected together by a plurality of vertical members, a projection positioned near each end of said lowerhollow member, a mail bag hanger hinged to one of said projections, and the other projection provided with a reduced extension, said extension positioned in a biiiurcated end of said hanger,

and a thumb-screw passing through said bifurcated end of said extension for locking said hanger.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mail bag support, of a yoke carried by the outer end of said support, said yoke comprising a plurality of holl low members, said hollow members adapted to it over portions of, said support, and means for normally holding said yoke upon said support.

3. In an apparatus ot' the class described, the combination with a support, said support provided with a plurality of outwardly-extending members, a yoke adapted to -fit over said outwardly-extending members, springpressed locking means adapted to hold said yoke upon said outwardly-extending members, means for securing a mail bag to said yoke, and means positioned at one side of said support for removing said yoke from said support.

4. In anv apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a yoke carried by one end of said support, said yoke comprising a plurality of hollow members, means connecting said hollow members, a hinged loop below said hollow members for supportingl a mailbag, and means positioned at one side of said support to remove said yoke from said support.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a yoke carried by said support, means for preventing said yoke from being placed too far upon said support, a hinged semi-circular member below said yoke and hinged thereto `for supporting a mail bag, and means for locking said hinged member in. a closed position, and means positioned to one side of said support for removing said yoke from said support.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of outwardly-extending members positioned upon said support, hollow members positioned u )on said outwardly-extending members, said hollow members constituting a part of a mail bag supporting yoke, means connecting said hollow members, means positioned below said hollow members for supporting a mail bag, spring-pressed locking means for normally holding said yoke upon said outwardly-extending members, said locking means comprising a pivoted pawl, said pawl secured near the outer end of one of said outwardlyextending members, a spring secured near one end of said outwardly-extending members and adapted to bear against said pawl for normally holding said pawl in an erect position to one side of said support for removing said yoke.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a ear, a mail bag support slidably mounted within said car, of .pivoted clamps secured to one side of said car, said clamps comprising an angle body portion, a reduced screw-threaded portion, said reduced screw-threaded portion extending through the side of said car and secured thereto and acting as a pivot for said clamp, a thumb-screw threaded through one part ol' said angle portion and adapted to clamp one portion ol said support against the side of said car.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, said su port provided with a plurality of outward -eX- tending members, said outwardly-extending members being bent, at their ends, at right angles to the support, of a yoke positioned upon said angle portion of said outwardlyextending members, said yoke provided with an outwardly-bulged portion, and a mailreceiving apparatus positioned at one side of said support and adapted to engage said loop upon said yoke.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a support, of a plurality of outwardly-extending members, the ends of said outwardly-extending members positioned at right angles to said support, a plurality of hollow members positioned upon said angle portion, connecting rods for said hollow portions, one of said rods provided with an outwardly-bowed portion, constituting a loop, spring-pressed means positioned near the end of one ol said outwardly-extending members for normally holding said yoke upon said support, and mail bag receiving means positioned at one side of said support and adapted to engage said loop and remove said yoke from said support.

l0. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mail bag support, of a mail bag receiving apparatus, said mail bag receiving apparatus comprising a plurality of standards, braces for said standards, two sets of cables or wires stretched between said standards and secured, at their ends, to said standards, spring-pressed bumpers ositioned upon one end of said cables, resi ient bumpers positioned at the opposite end of said cables, and a mail bag receiving device adapted to travel upon said cables and engage said bumpers.

ll. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mail bag support, ol' a mail bag receiving apparatus, comprising a plurality of vertical standards, two sets oi cables stretched between said standards and secured at their ends thereto, bumpers positioned at the ends of said cables, and a mail bag receiving device adapted to travel upon said cables and engage said bumpers.

l2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mail bag support, ol a mail bag receiving apparatus, said mail bagl receiving apparatus comprising a plurality of vertical standards, a plurality of sets of cables or wires stretched between said standards and secured, at their ends, thereto, bumpers positioned upon one end of said sets of cables, said bumpers comprising a coila mail bag receiving apparatus, said receiving apparatus comprising a plurality of vertical standards, an upper set of cables and a lower set of cables, said cables stretched between said standards and secured', at their ends, thereto, a mail bag receiving device adapted to travel upon said cables, said device comprising a plurality of carriages adapted to travel upon the upper set ot' cables and a plurality of carriages adapted to travel upon the lower set of cables, means connecting said carriages, a mail bag receiving hook, and means for supporting or securing saidmail bag receiving hook to said mail bag receiving apparatus.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mail bag support, of a mail bag receiving apparatus, said apparatus comprisinga plurality of vertical standards, an upper and lower set of' cables stretchedv between said cables and secured,

at their ends, thereto, a plurality of carriages adapted to travel upon the upper set of cables anda plurality of carriages adapted to travel upon the lower set of cables, vertical connecting` means connecting said upper and lower carriages, a mail bag receim'ng hook, means secured, at one end, to said upper and lower carriages, and secured at their ends to said mail bag receiving hook.

15. In` an apparatus ofthe class described, the. combination with a support, of a mail bag receiving apparatus, said mail bag receiving apparatus comprising a plurality of vertical standards, a plurality of sets oi cables stretched between said standards andsecured, at their ends, thereto, a plurality of carriages adapted to travel upon saidupper set of cables and a plurality of carriages adapted to travel upon said lower set of' cables, bulged portions positioned upon one side of said carriages, vertical rods secured, at their ends, in said bulged portions of said upper carriages and at their lower endsin said bulged portions of said lower carriages, and means positioned in said bulged portions of said upper-and lower carriages and extending outwardly for supportinga mail bagy receiving hook.

16.. In an apparatus ol'- the class described, the combination with a mail bagreceiving apparatus, said apparatus comprising a plurality oi vertical standards, oil a plurality oi 'sets of cables stretched between sai'd standards and secured, at their ends, thereto, a

Vplurality oi' carriages adapted to travel upon said cables, said carriages comprising a casing, said casing provided with an outwardlybulged portion', and a plurality of sets oi rollers traveling upon said cables positioned in said carriages, means connecting said carriages, and means for supporting a mail bag receiving hook upon said carriages.

17 In anY apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mail bag support, of a mail bag receiving apparatus, said apparatus comprising a plurality of vertical standards, ofa plurality of sets of cables stretched between said standards and secured, at their ends, thereto, a mail bag receiving device adapted to travel upon said cables, said mail bag receiving device comprising a plurality oi' carriages, means for connecting said carriages, and means secured at one end tosaid ca rriages for supporting a mail bag receiving hook.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mailv bag receiving apparatus, oi' a mail bag receiving hook device, said hook device comprising a buiet block, a downwardly-extending portion constituting a bumper, an outwardly-extending portion, said outwardl f extending portion constituting a hook, and' means positioned upon said hook for preventing the removal of an object after being placed thereon.

19. In an apparatus ofthe class described, the combination with a mail bag receivingdevice, said device comprising a buffet block,

a downwardly-extending portion, said downwardly-extending portion constituting a bumper, of an outwardly-extending portion, said outwardly-extending portion provided with an inner Hanged end, means secured to said flanged end and passing through said buiiet block for securing said outwardly-extending portion to said buffet block, leaves pivotally connected near one end of said outwardly-extending portion and adapted to prevent the removal of an object after being delivered thereon.

20. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a mail bag receiving hook device, said; device comprising a buffet block, a bumper and an outwardly-extending portion, said outwardly-extending portion constituting a mail bag receiving hook, said mail bag receiving hookV comprising an upper and a lower hingedl leaf, said leaves being pivotally connected near the outer end' of said hook, springs positioned in said hinged leaves, and means limiting the outward movement of said leaves.

21. In anapparatus of the class described', the combination with a support of a mailbag receiving hook-device carried thereby, said device comprising a buffet block, a bumper and a hook, said hook provided with a plurality oi hinged leaves, means normally exerting an outward pressure upon said leaves,

and means for limiting the outward movement of said leaves. Y

22. In an apparatus ol' the class described, the combination with a mail bag receiving hook device, said device comprising a buffet block, a bumper, a hook, said hook rovided with a plurality of hinged leaves, coi -springs bearing against said hinged leaves and normally exerting an outward pressure upon said leaves, lat springs positioned intermediate the ends of said hinged leaves, and means for limiting the outward movement o'l said leaves.

23. In an apparatus oi' the class described, the combination with a mail bag receiving hook device, of a pluralityT of hinged leaves, springs normally exerting an outward pressure upon said leaves, a T-shaped member xedly secured, at one end, to each hinged leal", a staple fastening said T-shaped mem ber to said hook, the laterally-extending portion ol' said member constituting a head, and preventing saidT-shaped member from being removed -from said staple.

In testimonyT whereoi I hereunto aflix my signature in presence oll two witnesses.

GEORGE L. KRINKE. vWitnesses SUMNER H. TURNER, FLOYD W. KINGSLEY. 

